Elite Dangerous Beta Begins

Elite Dangerous is now in beta testing
as promised, with the premium beta
having come to a close. This does not make the "regular" beta cheap, however, as
buying access will cost $75.00 USD. Frontier Developments calls the beta a
"significant milestone" in development of the space combat sequel, and offer a
new beta trailer to
show it off. Here's an outline of what's changed:

Beta 1 increases the number of playable
star systems in the game by a factor of 10 compared to Premium Beta, and covers
a greatly expanded 38,000 cubic light-year volume of Elite: Dangerous’
accurately modelled Milky Way galaxy centred around the Boötes constellation
familiar to Premium Beta players.

The greater volume of Beta 1 space has an increased variety of celestial bodies,
trading economies and star ports, and plays host to a large number of additional
features and enhancements which together provide a richer gameplay experience
over the whole expanded volume of space.

Significant Beta 1 additional features include:

55 star systems covering 38,000 cubic light-years

Initial online mission system functionality (to be
further developed through Beta)

Player-to-player communication by text and voice

Friends management and matchmaking

Private Group play option

On-line single player option

Overview trade route mapping

The concept of fuel consumption

Docking computers to automate safe star port
landings

Additional Viper heavy fighter and Lakon Type 6
medium trader ships

Beta 1 will be available in English only. Future builds will be localised in
the following languages: